Hydraulic plunger-elevator.



K. E. 0. JANSSON.

HYDRAULIC PLUNGER ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR-27.1908. RENEWED OCT. 16,1914.

1,136,678. Patented Apr.20, 1915.

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I Withaoaeo K. E. 0. JANSSON.

HYDRAULIC PLUNGER ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.27. I908. RENEWED OCT. 16, 1914.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

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xnnn n. ossmn .mnsson, F FLUSHING, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY:MESNE ASSIGN- MEETS; I0 STANDARD PLUNGER ELEVATOR COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSA CHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

HYDRAULIC PLUNGER-ELEVATOR.

To all whom it may concern.

, main operating cylinder itself for automatically retarding the movement of the elevator 'at the respective ends of its travel, independently of the controlling valve, whereby the usual automatic valve actuating connec tions located in the hatchway may be dis pensed with.

The invention furthermore has reference to means for automatically checking the respective movements of the car and coi1nterweight at the bottoms of their travel, whereby to distribute the checking strains throughout the system, instead of depending entirely on a few parts acting at a distance from the main cylinder. By means of this invention, a hydraulic plunger elevator system is provided wherein the plunger automatically throttles'the supply to stop the ascent of the car, and its movement toward the lower end of the cylinder is automatically checked by a device the main cylinder, thus efl'ectually checking or stopping the movements at both ends. To supplement these plunger checking devices, secondary pneumatic hydraulic bufiers are provided, controlled by the car and counterweight respectively, whereby the car will be brought to rest without shock at both ends.

The invention further comprises an improved form of plunger bottom whereby the use of rollers, springs or other resilient delarged scale the upper end of the main cylin- I Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Ap 20, 191 5 Application filed April 27, 1908, Serial No. 429,355. Renewed October 16, 1914. serial'n 867,038

der, and also the mechanism-carried by the car for cushioning the fall at thelower end of its movement; Fig. 4 shows :on an enlarged scale the end of the plunger; F ig. 5 shows a detail view of a fluid cheekingeylinder employed in connection withjthe cush ioning of the car at the bottom; Fig.6 is a detail view of the plunger bottom.

1 represents an elevator car sliding between suitable guides and mounted on a plunger 2 which reciprocates in a cylinder 3.

4 is a counterweight connected with the car 1 and through it to the plunger 2 by cables 5 running over sheave 6. a

7 represents a change valve which is controlled through a pilot valve, not shown, by cables 8 and a lever 9 on the car.

'10 is a supply tank connected with the main valve 7 by pipe 11, and 12 is an exhaust tank connected with the main valve by pipe 13. a

According to this invention, the main cylinder has separate inlet and exhaust ports. which are respectively connected with the main valve 7 by pipes letand 15 connected preferably at opposite sides of the cylinder. Also there is connected between the exhaust tank 12 and the exhaust pipe 1! a by-pass pipe 17 containing a checkvalve 18 opening toward the main cylinder, in order to permit a flow from the exhaust tank to the cylinder in case the plunger bounds or runs away from the water in going up causing a vacuum in the main cylinder. The devices for initially checking the movements of the car at top and bottom are contained within the main cylinder, acting in conjunction with the lower end of the plunger, while the secondary checking apparatus for controlling the movements of the car at the bottom is carried by the upper end of the plunger or the car itself acting in conjunction with a bufi'er mechanism, and the secondary checking apparatus for controlling the movement of the car at the top is carried in part by thev counterweight and in part located at the bottom of the shaft, so as to come intdoperation when the counterweight is within a few feet of the lower end of its travel. In both instances, these auxiliary or second ry checking devices act in combination wit 1 the initial checking apparatus within the main cylinder.

Fig. 4 shows on an enlarged scale the thereof. Mounted within the main cylinder 3 at the lower end is a stationary upright ram 20 composed ofa plurality of sections secured together by a rod 21 and tapering to a point at 22. This stationary ram 20 is centered within the lower section of the cylinder casing 3 and held therein by metal 23 poured around it, the lower section of the ram being likewise tapered so that it "can be gripped, and pulled out in case of necessity. 25 represents the lower end of the main plunger 2, which is externally tapered-as at 26, for checking the upward movement of the plunger, and internally hollowed and tapered as at 27, for checking the movement of the main plunger at the lower end in conjunction with the stationary ram 20. It will be seen that the water trapped in the lower end of the plunger will be forced out between the sides and the ram 20, as the plunger approaches the bottom. It is not intended that the ram 20 shall closely fit the cone 27 in the end of-the plunger, but the fit grows closer as the plunger approaches the lower end ofits movement. The lower end of'the plunger is provided with guide projections 28 composed of glass, these projections 28 being arranged in two sets one above the other, and staggered with respect to each other, so that the projections of one set or the other will always bear 'on the inside of the cylinder when the plunger is deflected. The glass shoes28 have enlarged bases, as 66, and pass through slots in a ring 67 screwed on to the lower end of the plunger, which ring is locked by collar 29. Glass has a particular advantage for this purpose,

inasmuch asit will not wear away, and by reason of the large area and staggered arrangement, will not cut the cylinder. At the lower end of the plunger is provided a collar 29 carrying an interior floating ring 30, which ring is permitted to move eccentrically within the collar 29. The interior diameterof the ring and its movement are so calculated that the hole in the ring will always be over the point of the ram 20, so

that when the plunger is descending they point of the ram will pass through the hole in the ring and thus it .will be insured that the end of the plunger will not strike the end of the ram. At the same time the interior diameter of the ring forms the requisite escape passage for the water trapped in the hollow end of the plunger to produce .the

proper retardation. The intention of this invention is that the ram will commence to act considerably before the plunger reaches its lower limit, to retard the movement of the car, and after the initial retardation has i been produced by the ram, a second retardation is produced by means carried under the car platform in conjunction with hydraulic The operation thus far described is that the drum 32 carried by the car passes over the piston 38, and when the air pressure bej tween piston 38 and the head of the drum reaches a sufiicient amount, the piston 38 moves downward carrying with it the yoke 36 and forcing the plungers 35 down into the respective cylinders 34. These cylinders 34 are connected by pipe 39 "to a fluid retarder 40. The fluid retarder 40 consists of a number of stationary rings 41 through which a number of movable cone shaped plungers 42 sliding on a common rod 43, are forced by the water pressure in pipe 39, there being restricted passages between the plungers 42 and the stationary rings 41. In this manner, the secondary checking eflect is produced directly on they car, whereby'the whole apparatus will be brought to rest without over-straining any of the parts.

- 44is a small tank connected with pipe39 through a check valve which opens outwardly from the tank. The object of the tank is to supply suflicient head of waterto lift the plungers 35 when the car goes up thereby restoring the plungers 35 and the piston 38 to their initial position. It may be stated that the weight of plungers 42 causes them to fall and open up the passages as soon as the pressure due to the retardation of the car is removed from the pipe 39.

In order to check the movement of the car at the top of the hatchway, the lower external coned portion 26 of the plunger is caused to automatically cut off or throttle the supply pressure, as the car approaches the top of the hatchway. In order to enable 'the ascent of the car to be stopped by caus ing the plunger to automatically throttle the supply pressure, it is desirable that means he provided whereby the car may be started downward without any delay when the exhaust is opened, and this is accomplished herein by providing the main cylinder with separate supply and exhaust passages at the upper end, both communicating with the lower portion of the cylinder, and thereby the throttling of the supply in stopping the car going u does not prevent the exhaust from being eely opened when the car is to come down. 7 To this end, the upper end of the main cylinder comprises an outersection 49 and an inner section 45 within which latter section the main plunger'2 operates.

The supply pipe 14is connected to the pipe 3 through a passage or ports 48. The cone portion 26 of-the main plunger 2 commences to throttle the supply as soon as it passes within the lower end of pipe 45, and the throttling eifect of course increases as the coned portion'26 passes upward within the pipe 45. It will be seen thatat a predetermined time, the coned portion 26 can completely cut ofi the supply to. cylinder 3 through pipe 45 if desired, thereby stopping the car since the exhaust valve is of course closed if the supply valve is open. When the car is to descend, the exhaust is opened through the passage48, without slowing up the initial descent of the car. It is intended that the initialchecking effect duringthe piston 54 working in a cylinder 55. As willappear from Fig. 2, the cylinder 55 has a wide portion containing the restoring spring 56, and a second portion 57 which will contain oil or other fluid. The lower end of the piston 54 carries an extension 58 having grooves 59 therein, and as the counterweight descends, it forces the piston 54 down against spring 56 and forces the oil in cylinder 57 up through the grooves 59.- At the same time, the plungers 53 have packings 60' at their upper ends, and the air trapped above these packings is forced out through a valve 61, which may be set to produce the desired cushioning eflt'ect. In this manher, the fall of the counterweight will be automatically cushioned by a pneumatic hydraulic apparatus, and as the counterweight stops, the movement of the car stops because the latter is commonly underbalanced by the counterweight.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided an automatic end stop mechanism for hydraulic elevators wherein the initial checking movement at the ends is applied to the plunger by hydraulic means within the main cylinder, and

that a secondary, checking movement at the respective ends is applied to the car and to the counterweight by pneumatic hydraulic checking means. By this mechanism, the car will come to rest gently at the ends without 35 shock, andthe chances of the failure of the apparatus to work are very much reduced. In case the end stopping apparatus in the main cylinder should itself fail, the devices on the car and counterweight would operate at the respective ends, and if the latter failed, the car would still be checked bythe aplplaratus within the cylinder.

odifications and changes in the specific apparatus. herein described can be made without departing from the scope of the invention which is not to be limited to the precise arrangement and construction herein described.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that what'I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

1. The combination with a hydraulic plunger elevator comprising a cylinder having means at the top for supplying and exhausting water, and a plunger working therein, of.

means wholly Within and respectively at the top and bottom of the cylinder for stopping the plunger at corresponding ends of its travel, and means comprising separate supply and exhaust connections with the cylinder whereby actuating pressure for a normal start in one direction may be applied to the plunger independently of one end stopping means, and an exhaust for a normal start in the other direction secured independently of the other end stopping means.

2. The combination with a hydraulic plunger elevator, of a main cylinder having sepa- 4. The combination with ahydra'ulicplun gerelevator, of a main cylinder having separate supply and exhaust ports, means whereby the plunger automatically cuts off the supply within the main cylinder at the upper end, and means whereby the car can be started in the reverse directionthrough said exhaust port.

5. The combination with a hydraulic plunger elevator cylinder and a plunger working therein, of means wholly within the cylinder whereby the plunger automatically cuts off the supply to stop at one end.-

7 6. The combination with a hydraulic plunger elevator cylinder and a plunger working therein, of means wholly within the cylinder. whereby the incoming water under supply pressure automatically opposes movement of the plunger at a predetermined portion of its travel.

7. The combination with ahydraulic plunger elevator cylinder and a plunger working therein having portions of two diameters, of

' fective at a predetermined portion ofthe stroke to oppose the working pressure andmeans wholly within the. cylinder whereby the working ressure is eifective on one diameter and t e other diameter becomes efthereby chec the movement.

8. The combination with a hydraulic plunger elevator cylinder and a lun er working supply pressure is caused to oppose con-' tinued movement of said plunger.

'10. The combination with a hydraulic plunger elevator cylinder, of a plunger working therein, a counterweight connected with the plunger, means for admitting supply pressure to move the plunger in one direction, means whereby at a predetermined portion of said stroke the supply pressure is caused to oppose continued movement of saidplunger, and means for'checkin counterweight whereby to increase the c ecking effect of the supply pressure on said plunger.

11. The combination with a hydraulic cylinder and an element moving therein, of means for admitting supply pressure to".

move said element inat least one direction, and means carried by the plunger and wholly within the cylinder whereby at a predetermined portion of said stroke the supply pressure is caused to oppose continued movement of said element.

' 12. The combination with a hydraulic plunger and cylinder, of means within and at one end of the cylinder for checking the movement of the plunger as it approaches that end, and means connectedwith the plunger outside of the cylinder acting to exert a checking efiect on the other end of the plunger whereby to relieve it from excessive strain duringjthe checking movement.

13. The combination with a hydraulic plunger, a working cylinder, and a car and counterweight, of means for automatically checking the plunger at the end of the stroke comprlsmg a plurality of devices acting upon different portions of the plunger, one tending to cause a compression on the plunger and" the other an opposing tension,

whereby excessive strain on the plunger in stopping is avoided. I

'14.'T e combination with :a hydraulic plunger elevator system comprising 'a main the . der and acting respectively on the en of the plunger for initially checking the movement, and a plurality of means separate from the main cylinder and acting respectively on the car and the counterweight for exerting opposing checking eiforts upon the plunger.

16. The combination with a hydraulic I *plunger elevator system,- comprising a main cylinder, a plunger and a counterweight, of means withln the main cylinder for initially checkin the movement, and means separate from tlie main cylinder and acting later than said checking means for exertinga secondary checking action on a diiferent part of the system and opposing the strain caused by said first-named means.

17. In a hydraulic plunger elevator system, comprising a plunger, a main cylinder a car and a counterweight, the combination therewith of means within the main cylinder for exerting a checking force on the v .lower end of the plunger to retard the movement of the car at the lower limit, and

means outside the cylinder for exerting a second checking force on the u per end of the plunger tending to relieve t e compres sion of said lunger as the car approaches its lower limit.

18. In a hydraulic plunger elevator sys-' tem comprising a plunger, a main cylinder, a car and a counterweight, the combination therewith of means within the c linder for exerting a checking force on t e plun er at the upper end of its travel, and means or retarding the movement of the counterweight at the lower end of its travel.

19. In a hydraulic plunger elevator system comprising a plunger, a main cylinder, a car and a counterweight, the combination therewith of means within the cylinder for automatically throttling the sup ly pressure therein adapted to be moved by the car as it approaches its lower limit, a hydraulic column connected with said cylinder and means for retarding the flow of said column.

22. The combination with a hydraulic plungerelevator cylinder having a pressure 'nlet and a plunger working therein, of means whereby, at a predetermined portion of the pressure operated stroke of the plunger the supply pressure passage is automatically restricted by the Plunger.

23. The combination with a main cylinder, a plunger and a car carried thereby, of a drum carried on the lower side of the car, a piston and cross head mounted to be engaged by said drum before the car reaches its bottom limit, and a hydraulic cylinder and plunger connected with said cross head to be actuated by the pressure on said piston within said drum.

24;. The combination with hydraulic bufcombination w1th a main cylinder, of a plunger having an enlarged lower end provided with rubbing surfaces of glass.

26. In a hydraulic plunger elevator comprising a car'and a plunger, the combination with a stationary cone, of a floating ring within the lower end of the plunger and having an internal diameter such as to include the point of the cone at all lateral positions of the plunger in the cylinder.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

KARL E. OSSIAN JANSSON.

Witnesses:

JULIAN S. WOOSTER, GEO. A. HOFFMAN. 

